An attempt to produce experimental tuberculoid leprosy in the nine-banded armadillo.

ABSTRACT

In an attempt to produce experimental tuberculoid leprosy, three nine-banded armadillos, two with borderline tuberculoid lepromin reaction, and one with tuberculoid lepromin reaction, were chosen. They were injected subcutaneously in a four square centimetre area in the abdominal skin with saline suspension of 6.5 x 10(7) M. leprae. Induration of skin at the injected site appeared in 24 hours and persisted for 6 months in one and for 18 months in the other two animals. Histopathological examination of the infected site at 6 weeks, 18 and 20 months showed progressively decreasing granulomatous inflammation; but the cutaneous nerves were uninvolved. Autopsy examination of the three animals failed to show disseminated disease. Since there was no evidence of nerve involvement, experimental transmission of tuberculoid leprosy to armadillos could not be established in this study.